Vending machine



Oct. 19,1943. c, R, HQLCOMB, JR 2,332,317

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 15, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1943u c. R. HoLcoMB, JR l2,332,317

VENDING MACHINE 76 INVENTOR BQ/zaIrA/es H/co/n, Jh

ATTORNEY Oct 19, 1943- c. R. HoLcoMB, .JR 2,332,317

VENDING MACHINE- Original Filed 061,. 15, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 19, 1943. c. R. HoLcoMB, JR 2,332,317

' VENDING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 13,- 19158 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 .fd 0 25,/ 232 .59 10 /45 /90/7/ /a fa if I6? m a /a/ 3 4;0, /f/ 9 i 4@ u w j; 4a 45 5/ 54 i /04 9 fag L 4a f /a Z8 l 47 7J 'y j? 245 49 7a m9 7 lNvENToR ATTORNE Oct. 19, 1943. -c. R. HoLcoMB, JR 2,332,317

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 13, 193B 5 Sheets-Sheet l 5 y MM 7 y INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1943 y 2,332,317 vENmNG MACHINE 'Charles R. Holcomb, Jr., K'ans'asCity, Mo., assignor to Arthur lC. Brown, Kansas City, Mo.

Original Vapplication'October 1?, 1938, Serial No. 234,767. yDivided and this* application--March l2, v153.452Se1a1 No. 434,317 1 n Claims. (Cl. 1911-63) This invention relates to lvending machines and more particularly to coin controlled dispensing machines for marketing :merchandise such as candy bars,. peanuts andsimilargedible commodities, cigarettes, chewing vgum and'other packaged articles, and is a division of `my-,pending vapplication Serial, VNumber 234,767, filed October 13,

1938, Patent No.12,285,435, June v9., v1942.

The-principal object :ofthe present invention is to provide a coin controlled machine in which a number of different kinds .and/or brands of merchandise may be displayed for sale and in which any selected article may .be readily brought to dispensing position ,in the machine by the purchaser.

Other .objects lof the invention .are to ,provide a machine in which :the articles to be -vended are carried on a plurality of endless'.conveyors.having andndividual pocket for each article; to provide for aligninganyselected pocket vvvitlfi .the delivery opening of the machineytogprovide for locking the particular .conveyor from which the article is .to be vendedduring the delivery of .the article and .for .the return of said 'conveyorand locking mechanism to .normal operating condition; to provide for selectively '.connectingthe delivery mechanism `of the machine with either of the conveyors; and to pnovidetfforiej'ecting the desired article from .the selected '.po'cketi'of the selected conveyor 'whenbronght into delivery position.

Further Objects of the .inventicnrare to provide for eecting the lcollectionfof vgenuine coin .by delivery of the merchandise, andi for .the .automatic return of the coin when no merchandise is delivered; to providefor .automatically maintaining .all of the .delivery mechanism in locked condition until .released bya proper coin; to .provide guides for retaining the ylxnerclriandise in .the respective pockets and for preventing Adamage `to the yarticles or their Wrappings.; y-andtoprovide a loci: for the delivery mechanism vvhenin yneutral position between the conveyors.

Further .objects .of 'the invention .are vthe provision of lmeans for preventing reversexmovement of the delivery mechanism after the delivery has started thereby .assuring full actuationk of the machine; .and yto provide ashock absorber be tween the operating lever vand theldel-ivery mechanism whereby shocks on the lever. do not damage the machine.

Still further Aobjects of the invention are `to provide an improved coin controlled machine which is durable, attractive, versatile, -eflicient and of large capacityyet economical .to manufacture; and to7 provide improved part-s annif-ar-A rangements of partsinfthe structure of a machine of this character. y '.v y

In .accomplishing these andothertobjectsof the present invention, ,I v,have provided improved details :of structure, thepreferred :form yof which vis illustrated in the 'accompanying drawings,

wherein Figi Vis aperspective view of 1a `vendin-g-rnachine embodying vmy invention. l l

Fig. 2 ,is -a vertical sectionthrough .one l.of the conveyors on the line 2 2, Fig. 5.

fFig. 3 is a vertical -section through `the .lower portion of the machine similar -to Fig. -2,..With-.the

exception that the parts'v `re l'shown in article ejecting position. v 1

Fig. 4 -is a vertical section on the line li-A,

Fig. 5. v

Fig. 5 is ahorizontal-section ithroughA the machineon the line5-.5,Fig..2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical ysection onfthe line 6 6, Fig. 5, showing the coin .control levers in elevation.

Fig. 'lis a viewssimilar to Fig. 6, the respective parts being .moved to sta-rt deliveryzof .the merchandise. v

Fig. 8 is a vertical vsectionfshovving the side of the-*coin 'control .lever mechanism. opposite that shown in Fig. 6. v

Fig. 9 is a View similar to'Fig. 8., :the levers'bieing moved 'to correspond tothe position 'of the levers shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 10 .is fa vertical sectionthrougfh, the lower part of the machine taken v:on the line la-l0, Fig. 2.`

Fig. 11 is a detail 'perspectivefview of fone of the merchandise `.poc'lrets fo'f lthe conveyors.

y Fig.t12 is Yagrietail .perspective view-of the trip operated by .delivery fof an articlezfor effecting ccliectionofthecoin.

Fig. 13 .is a detail perspective view'of 'theyshoc'k absorber between the operating lever and :the delivery. mechanism.

Fig.14is.a..detail perspective view of the centering gear'wheel showing :its relation to the conveyor clutch members .and centering Wheel zlock.

Referring more in detail to the drawings: The invention, lin its general aspects. isbest y illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein yit isfshown'embodied in .a housing al @of suitable conformation, material and viinish, which housing is adapted vto encase a 4plurality of Vendless conveyors preferably ofl the ycharacter indicated 'at v2, Fig. 2, the endless conveyors preferably being formed .of a se-ries fof pockets-.3, Fig. 1.1. yBy vso ,arrangmgJaplurality of thel conveyors 4in .the housi-ngVit is apparentr that` the capacity of the vending machine is increased to an extent, for example when two conveyors are employed as is preferable in the present instance, approximately four times the height of the housing.

It is contemplated that the pockets 3 be of varying sizes toA accommodate articles of merchandise, such as candy bars, of different length, Width and thickness, to the end that a great variety of merchandise may be vended from the machine.

The machine is entirely selective and provision is made for selection of merchandise by providing a cover 4 for suitable engagement with the housing and adapted to be locked thereto by a suitable locking device 5 for cooperating with the housing in enclosing the merchandise lled conveyors. he cover 4 has elongated merchandise viewing panels 6 and I for the purpose of permitting a buyer to determine what types of merchandise the machine contains. A suitable grill 8 is mounted behind each panel for the purpose of preventing the panels from becoming soiled, should the candy bars, for example, become soft and tend to smear the panels when they are moved in back of the panels by the conveyors. The grills 8 also tend to prevent the wrappings of the merchandise from becoming damaged during travel, and also prevent theft of articles from the machine, sh-ould the panels be broken.

A conveyor actuating mechanism 9 is provided as a part of the machine for turning the conveyors, and an auxiliary cover I3 is provided for covering the conveyor actuating mechanism, as well as completing enclosure of the inner operative parts of the machine, the auxiliary cover IQ preferably being hinged, as at I I, to the housing I and being suitably engageable, as indicated at l2, with the cover 4 whereby the casing for the machine, comprising the housing l, cover 4, and auxiliary cover I0, securely houses the machine and prevents unauthorized entrance thereto.

A dispensing outlet or delivery opening I3 is provided, preferably in the lower forward portion of the auxiliary cover IE), and observation panels I4 and I5 are provided at the upper portion thereof for permitting a customer to Vdetermine What brand or type of commodity is in dispensing position in the machine. The dispensing position of articles to be sold is directly in back of each of the doors IS and IT, which may be viewed through the panels I4 and l5.

This vending machine is coin controlled and a suitable coin slot I8 is therefore provided for feeding the machine to make it operate in response to actuation of an operating lever I9.

It is further intended that only one article is to be vended upon acceptance by the machine of a single genuine coin and, for this reason, provision is made for shifting the dispensing mechanism into operative position relative'to vone merchandise containing pocket in one conveyor, this positioning of the vending mechanism being carried out by manipulation of the shifting lever 20.

Each article of merchandise is preferably contained in a single pocket 3, Fig. 11, and the pockets 3 are preferably stamped and shaped from a one-piece blank in such a manner as to provide a bottom wall 25, a top wall 25, and end walls 2?. The front of the pocket is open to provide for filling the pocket and ejecting an article therefrom, and the rear of the pocket is provided with spaced openings '28 to provide for the pas? sage of article ejecting members, later described. Preferably formed integrally with each of the pockets are spaced pairs of ears 29 and 30 having aligned apertures therethrough for receiving suitable fastening devices as indicated, for example, at 3I and 32 in Fig. 2, for interconnecting a plurality of the pockets to buildup each of the endless conveyors 2.

In order to mount the endless conveyors 2 in the housing, the conveyors are each mounted on a framework 33, Fig. 2, adapted to be slid bodily into the housing for enclosure by the the framework 33 also supporting and forming a mounting for the various parts of the vending mechanisms embodying the present invention. The framework 33 comprises suitable uprights interiorly braced relative to each other preferably by a diagonally disposed brace member 34, a laterally disposed brace member 35, diagonally disposed brace member 35, diagonally disposed brace members 35, and a horizontally disposed crown member 3l. The crown member 3? has mounted thereon a suitable bracket forming a bearing support for the inn-er ends of spaced horizontally aligned shafts 38. A pair of spaced sprockets or the like'V 39 are rotably mounted on the shafts 38, the sprockets being provided on their peripheries with congurations adapted to receive the adiacent portions of the ears of the conveyors formed by the merchandise containing pockets in such a manner as to prevent slippage of the conveyors when moved thereover.

The sprockets 39 on the upper shafts 38 provide an upper run for the endless conveyor, the lower run of each of which is defined by similarly arranged sprockets 40, Fig. 2, spaced apart a distance equal to the-distance between the pairs ci ears on the container pockets forming the links for the conveyors.

While the sprockets 43 are themselves substantially similar, and while they are mounted in spaced horizontal' alignment adjacent the lower end of the framework 33, Figs. 5 and l0, the arrangement for mounting them is dierent from the arrangement for mounting the upper sprockets. The left-hand pair of lower sprockets, when the vending machine is arranged as shown in Fig. l, is mounted cna horizontal shaft 45, Figs. 5 and 10, one end 46 of which is rotatably mounted in the upright 41 and the other end 4S of which is rotatably mounted in a vertically disposed supporting partition 49 welded or otherwise secured to the bottom 53 of the framework 33.

The lower right-hand pair of conveyor receiving sprockets is mounted on a tube 5I which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in a vertically disposed supporting partition 52, substantially similar vto the partition 4S, and in a suitable bearing in the upright 53 opposite the upright 4l.

In order to turn the right-hand conveyor, as in Fig. 10, a shaft 54 is extended through the tube 5I and is rotatably mounted inthe outer end of the tube, as by a gland 55. The inner end of the shaft 54 projects beyond the tube 5I, the shaft 54 having i'lxed thereto, as by lock nuts 5. a centering gear wheel 51, particularly illustrated in Fig. 14. The centering gear wheel has radially extending fingers 65 and an annular series of openings 6I for alternately receiving the pointed ends on the teeth 62 of a clutch member 53 preferably formed integrally with the tube 5l, as shown in Fig. 10, and the pointed ends of teeth 64 on an oppositely disposed clutch member G5 suitably Xed, as shownv in Fig. 14, to the inner l end; of.,.the shaft 45 .supporting the lower lefthandpairof aligned sprockets..

The shaft .disextended outwardly and'fto the right, Fig.,:1(l,.,beyond,thehousing I and :termi- `natesfina,suitahleknob or handled! forming the exterior conveyor actuating mechanism.

'lf/hem therefore, the machine is in vthe condition'illustrated in Fig. 10, itwill be' apparent that the centering gearwheel 5l is shiftedv to the right in. v'sucha .manner that its openings .5l vreceive lthe pointed endslof the tube clutch member "63, and that,.therefore, rotation of rtheconveyor .actuating memberli not .only .rotates theshaftf, but

through thepentering gear wheel. 57 and tube clutchiinember 65.3, the .lower right-hand .conveyor i.

I sprockets-.are rotated to move saidri'ght-hand conveyor. s

`LEiigagement of such sprockets with the con-v f door Ibelow the panel l5, which is in dispensing position for that particular article.

.A lIt may happen, however', that ythe article the customer vdesiresrto purchase .is in a pocket in the'left-hand conveyor, f In order, therefore, `for the article'to be positioned in dispensingposition behind the door i5 below the panel. Hl, an arrangement is provided, ofwhich-the shifting ylever 2U Aforms a part, for shifting the conveyor actuating mechanism into engagement with the lefthand conveyor for acting on that conveyor independently of the right-hand conveyor.

This arrangement is shown in Figs'. 4, 5, 8, 9, l0, and a partthereof in Fig. ill, and,comprisesy a substantially. vertically .arranged supporting partition 'l5 disposed between the partitions lil-9 and 52, the lower end thereof being suitably hinged,

as .at 16, to the bottom member titl of the framef `set-screw and the centering wheel to shift Ythe centering wheel to the left out of engagement with .the clutch member te @n ythe tube tiene effects engagement of the pointed teeth on the clutch member 65 on the vshaft l5 of the. lefthand conveyor with the openings 6l in the lcentering gear wheel. Movement of the partition l5 to the right, as in Fig. l0,` returns'the centering gear wheel 5l to the position shown in Fig. l by lmeans of engagement with the centering Wheel of a set-screw 7S oppositely disposed in relation to the set-screw ilk and mounted inthe upper offset end 'i9 of anarm fixed .to the partition A"i by suitable fastening devices El, thev offset end lil ofthe arm d@ admitting'of free .ro--

tation of the centering wheel. -57 betweensaid arm and one side of vthe khinged supporting partition15. K A. n

The vshifting lever Eil .foreffecting this movement of the hinged partition 'l5 and .consequent shifting of the conveyor actuating nuernberg intov lengagement with the /desired conveyor consistsof a rod -or bar 85 suitably fixed preferably to the upper forwardV corner -of the partition l5, the bar fextending upwardly behind the cover i and betweenv the conveyors toY a point inthe framework interiorly vof the housing -above the ydoors mand 1.1 where said bar is turnedlaterally out,-4

Cil

wardly 'for :extension through .a suitable lslot or thelike 86, Fig. ..1,'.to':terminate in the shifting y UWith the construction-"thus fardescribed, it.

is apparentthat acustomer approaching 'the machine .may View 4af-seriesof articles v.to 'be Vended and vchooseasingle article in either f conveyor and placerthe chosen' `article .iin position kto bedispensed by manipulation .of the conveyor actuating =member..9 and. the. .conveyor .actuating mem-l ber shifting .lever,.20. 1

in order to `dispense the chosen. article from .dispensing position, it is .necessary` to .drop ;a .genuine coin of properdenomination ,in the slot 'I'B :in the cover 4 of the machine.'v

er '4:immediatelyiniback of thecoin slot .l E. This coinselector 90 automatically determines whether or not the coin presented to it is of a type .re-

, quired to purchase a singlearticle contained'in i without disconnecting the chute the machine zand, if the coin presentedis spurious or of improper denomination, that coinis dropped into thechute 9|, Fig.l e, through whichl it travels to an outlet 92 from whence it is dropped into the trough 93 atfthe frontof the machine adjacent the delivery opening i3 in such a manner that the .person presenting `the spurious coin.

may have it returned'to-him. l

If, however, the coinpresented is genuine and of proper denomination forwhich the machine is designed, ther selector $11) drops such coin` into the chutegli through which it is delivered to a receiving channel 95, Figs. 6 `to-9, substantially at t-he upper forward corner of the hinged supporting partition 15. Y

In order to 'compensate' for lhinging the partition 15 and still admit a rgenuine conto thereceiving channel 95 in either of the shifted positions of the partition, the v'chute 9i is preferably fixed in position byl'suitable connection with the framework and a bracket S5, Fig. 4, is preferably xed to the chute al' and the upper end of the chute '94 is suitably pivotaliy mounted as indi-- catedatl, to the bracket 5S, the lowerend of .the chute @il being -in engagement with the regenerally, may also represent a` handle of suitable shape which'is fixed at its inner end, as indicated at lil, Fig. 5, to a shaft itil which has its outer end rotatably mounted in the housing i and right-hand framework upright 53, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. The inner end 0f a shaft lili is rotatably mounted in the right-handl vertically disposed supporting partition '52, said end of the shaft being fixed against sliding-movement in its support bysuitable spacers and a head H32 on the extreme inner end thereof. Fixed to the inner end ofl the shaft lill is a forked arm( ISS, Fig. 13, which extends rearwardly of the shaft li which is normally positioned in horizontal relation to the framework. A spring l'ifi'has one end thereOfiXed to the .rear end of the varin ld, the other end .of vthe spring IM :being fixed `to a lever I B5k preferably on 'the inwardly -.tap'ering central article or eject Athe A conventional coin selector Aor spurious coin detector lll), Figa, is mounted within the covy portion |05 of the lever |05. The upper end of the lever |05 extends upwardlyA substantiallyperpendicularly relative to the shaft and is pivotally mounted on said shaft between the tangs of the forked arm |03. The lower end of the lever |95 extends downwardly in substantially perpendicular relation to the shaft I 0| and in inwardly spaced relation thereto relative to the partition 52, this lower portion of the lever having an elongated slot |01 therein for slidably receiving a laterally extending lug |08 fixed to the lower end of a lever arm |90. .The upper end of the lever arm |09 is pivoted, as at H0, in downwardly spaced relation to the upper rear corner of the hinged partition 15, as shown in Figs. 6 and "I, and has fixed thereto a 'lever arm III, which extends forwardly relative tothe hinged partition to a point adjacent the forward upper corner of the hinged partition 15, as also shown in Figs. 6 and '1.

Movement of the lever arm |59 is normally in opposition to a spring I I2 which is suitably fixed, as particularly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, to the lower end of the arm |69 and to the hinged partition 15.

Actuation of the lever handle Ii) in the intended downward direction rotates the shaft IBI in ananticlockwise direction to pivot the forked arm |03 upwardly, as shown in Fig. 13, andthe slotted lever |05 substantially to the right, as

shown in Fig. 13. Movement of the slotted lever it to the right pivots the lever arm |00 to the right to effect pivoting of the lever arm in a downward direction, the arm III being free to move downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 6 into engagement with a stop IIS. This stop ||3 consists of a laterally turned flange on the upper end of a lever H4, Figs. 8 and 9, the lower end of which lever is pivoted, as at H5, to the forward'portion of the hinged partition plate 15 on the side thereof opposite the arm i I. The stop |53 is adapted for movement, in an arc of a circle having substantially the radius of the length of the lever H4, in response to pivoting of the lever H4, in a recess H6 in the edge of the Cil partition plate 15 but is normally retained in retracted position in the recess by the spring I I1 which is suitably fixed to the lever IILI and to the hinged partition 15. The lever I i4 has a rearwardly extending boss I I3 adjacent the stop I I3, which boss is pivoted with an inwardly extending lug H9, the rear end of which is shown in full lines, Figs. 8 and 9, and the front end of which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. v The lug IIS is adapted for limited movement in an opening l |12@ formed in the hinged partition 15, the lug E i5 frictionally engaging the inner face of a plate Iii which forms a downward extension of one wall of the coin receiving channel S5, which plate |2| is suitably spaced from the adjacent side of the hinged partition 15 to provide adequate space the passage of a coin, such as a nickel, therebetween. Assuming that the lever handle I9 has bee actuated to move the arm III downwardly into strength and forming a vshock absorber for protecting the machine :against misuse before it is prepared for dispensing merchandise therefrom.

Wheng however, a coin, such as a nickel, is dropped in the coin slot I8 and is accepted by the coin selector, the coin drops to the channel 95 and is deflected laterally rearwardly by a boss |25, Fig. 6, which boss is utilized for spacing the plate |2| of the coin channel to provide space through which the coin may travel. Deflection of the coin brings it into engagement with the inner face of a tapered boss fixed to the inner side of an arcuate cam |21 mounted adjacent the forward end of the arm III and traveling when the arm I Il is pivoted downwardly in a path formed by the inner arcuately shaped surface |28 of the coin channel plate |2I. The tapered boss |26 spaces the cam |21 from the partition 15 in such a manner that the cam |21 forms an outer wall to cover the coin and maintain it in its proper downward path.

Travel of the coin in a downward direction is also limited by. the lug ||9 which cooperates with the tapered boss |26 in temporarily confining the coin. The coin, however, being in the position indicated at |29 in Fig. 6, and continued pressure in a downward direction being applied to the arm the tapered boss |25 engages the coin and tends to force it downwardly and the coin therefore forces the lug IIS outwardly. Outward movement of the lug H9 forces the stop [I I3 outwardly out of retracted position since movement c-f the lug causes the lever I I4 to pivot outwardly against tension of the spring II1, the result of which is to remove the stop vI I3 from stopping engagement with the arm III, thus permitting the arm il to continue its downward movement to force the coin further downwardly, the coin then dropping to the position indicated at in Fig. 9. This position of the coin is maintained by lodgment of the coin on a pair of inwardly turned stop members |36 and |31.

The stop member |35 consists of an inwardly turned flange passing through anopening |38 in the partition 15, which flange is reciprocable in the opening |38 in response yto pivoting the arm |39, of which it forms a part, about the pivot point |40, such pivoting being effected by downward pressure on the arm I4| against tension of the spring |42 which is suitably fixed to a laterally turned shelf M3 formed on the arm |4| of the stop member |35.

The stop member |31 comprises an inturned` flange on a lever |45 which.V is pivotally mounted, as at |46, on the hinged partition 15 and which reciprocates within a guide |51 suitably fixed to the partition 15. Reciprocation of the lever |45 is effected by actuation of the arm |43, the rear end of which is offset inwardly intoan opening |49 in the partition 15, said end of the arm |138 being fixed to the bar |50 on the other side of the partition, as shown in Figs. 6 and'7. IThe bar |50 is pivotally mounted on the partition 15 by a pin or the like I5I, the upper end of the bar |50 having an arcuate slot |52 therein for receiving an inwardly extending lug |53 adjacent the rear end of the arm I I.

With this construction, it is apparent that downward movement of the lever handle I9, while moving the arm downwardly, also pivots the upper end of the bar |50 rearwardly and the lower end thereof forwardly to move the arm |48 on the other side of the partition for- Ward and also move the-stop-member -I31 for- .aaeasirv wardlylto-secureiy'retain thecoin inthe'position;

illustrated in' Fig. 9; assumingitliat thefstopimemy.ation or attemptedractuation of the machine To this end, the rear face of the arcuate Cami |21 is provided with a series of ratchet teeth |55 adapted to receive one end of "a dog |55 plv oted to the hinged partitionv sinali'gnment y v with the ratchet teeth |55 and-held in operative position relative thereto bythe spring'. lilsecured to the dog 'and to the partition' 15./` The" manner ofemployingsithis arrangement is illustrated in Fig?, wherein the arm isA shown the arm. .Howeven after upward, movement` iS started thefdog engages `the teeth-to prevent downward movement until afterthe lug |13 has returned to-normal"1'ocking position,

t was stated earlier in this' specification that i one of the features of lthis invention is to providev for collection'offthe coin `only upon delivery of merchandise' from the machine' and'tha-t the coin is returned to the operator when no merchandise is in the pocket in dispensing pc sition' relative to the `delivery outletv of the machine. v

When', therefore, no merchandise is inV a dispensing pocket, the stop member |36 remaining in thev position shown in Figs. 8f and 9 and forward movement of the arm'r |48 moving the stop member |31 to the position shownf i'n'Fig. 9,'

rearward movement thereof in response' to 'raising of the operating lever handle I8, moves the permits it tolroll by gravity down the forwardly directed channel |6|1`and 'outlinto the dispensing outlet in1theauxiliary cover IE! v'of the machine for return to the'operator. l

On the other'hand. when al merchandise con-f tai'ning pocket is arranged iii-'dispensing posi-l inl Fig.. 9,V the stop member' |36 'should be in the arm lll-8 rearwardly and the stop |31 rearwardly to the position thereof'shown in Fig. '8. Suchran' arrangement formsan incline for the coin" 'and 5' containing pocket ony either of 'the' conveyors when that pocket'is .aligned with the ejecting member in front of one'- of: -thefdoors I6 or I1 'of lthemaohin'e.' The'outer endl'ofl each ejecting `member is slidablymounted in a track |53' mounted on the inner faces of the 'respective uprights 4:1.and 53.. The inner ends -ofboth the ejecting meml'oersv are provided with a boss `|654 having xed theretoi ink transverse relation to tifi'eeje'cting members and. .ini parallel' relation to the fingers thereof.. a=rod |10; This rod |10 on both ejecting"membersis.slidablyfguided in a bracket |1| andzjis adapted forreciprocation forwardlyandA rearwardly ini saidbracket when' tliaejecting members -areireci'p'rocated in a similar manner to force the'fingers. thereof forwardlyfto dislodge an articlezindicated by dotted' lines Fig. 5, from-one ofA theA pockets'which, in this instancamay'be designated |13. v

1iny order to move 'the *ejectingi membersV an arrangement is. provided which: is particularly illustratedY in Figs. 8y and 9.' This arrangement consists of' an. actuatingy plate |1531which has` a lower arm |15 'pivoted to the hinged partition 15 below va substantially 'centraliy upwardly eX- tending vopening! 11 in the hingedpartition.A The arm |15 of the platel curves forwardly' and then rearwardly Varound the shaft 54 extending through thehinged partition,as shownV in Fig.' 10,

one side of which arm terminates in: ai boss |13,A

passes throughthe if hinged partition'v 15'I and through the plate |15.l The normal Yposition ofl thearm lil 'being inliupxcondition, as shown in Figs 6, the luigi |81' thereon is in position` rela# tive tothe'plate |15, as': shown' in Figi; that is in the upper end ofthe slot.` lilo.y Under such conditions,the plate is in retracted rearward position, shown-.in Fig. 5, that is; in engagement withr the left-hand merchandise e'jecting mem- Movement of thelever handle I8, therefore, in

a downward direction; moves the arm in a tion, and the proper coin is in thepositi'onsho'wn position shown in Fig.`9 and the stop member# 'l'should be moved to the right, relativef'tofli'giy 9', in oppositely disposed relation to the arrangementishown in Fig. 8 to the end that an incline may be formed to permit thegcoinjto `roll rearwardly relative to the machine andtofthe' left relative to Fig. 9 for engagement upon thedefleeting member Hi Figs. 6 and '1, for subsequeht' passage into the coin box |521 l Y This collection of the coin is accomplished by the arrangement for ejecting the merchandise from the pocket in cooperationwith the dispensing doors'of the machine. vThe article ejecting mechanism is particularlyY illustratedl in Figs'. 5f

downward direction and pivots the -plate |15 from the .position shown in Fig. 8'y to that shown the slot liintheplate |15 and .forcing the plate |15 forwardly. Theear |19 on the plate. |15 is Depending upon thepositiony of the hinged partition 15. therefore,y actuation oithe/l lever handle lil moves one of the ejecting members H555 U35 forwardly in' the track' |63" andthe bracket 11| to eject an.article of merchandise' :from out of a pocket on the conveyor aligned therewith. l

In order to provide for ejecting the merchandise only in response toactuatio'n of the lever handle t9, alockf is provided for-each of the ejecting ni'ernbers'which` isactuated by theear.

|19l on the plate' |15 only when the'plate is moved of them consists of a pair of arms |96 and |81 which are pivoted at their juncture |33 to the inner end of each of the ejecting members |85 and |56. The arm |86 of each of the locking members has a dog |89 extending laterally therefrom and adapted for engagement with an upstanding ear |90on one side of the bracket |1|. The arm |81 of each of the locking members extends laterally of the pivot |88 into the path of the ear |19 on the plate |15, engagement of the ear |119 pivoting the arm |81 forwardly to remove the dog |899 from engagement with the ear |90 for permitting the ejecting members to move forwardly in response to actuation by the plate. These locking ymembers arey each normally retained in lockingposition by a spring |9| which tends to hold thelocking members in the condition shown for the left-hand ejector mechanism in Fig. 5. The spring is prevented from pivoting the locking member beyond the position shown by a downwardly extending ear on the arm |81 on the locking member which is engageable with the forward face of the ejecting member.

It will thus be seen that should an attempt be made to move the ejecting members forwardly, for example, by attempting to actuate the same without manipulation of the lever arm |9, the ejecting members will be locked against such movement.

As was above pointed out, one of the features of this machine is to collect the coin only when merchandise is delivered, thus providing a fair machine for both purchaser and vendor. This arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 4 and l2 wherein the doors |5 and I1 are illustrated, such doors being shown to be hinged over each of a pair of outlet openings |92, which openings are cut in a bracket |93 having its ends suitably Xed to the framework uprights, the bracket |93 extending forwardly of the conveyors and the remainder of `the coin controlled mechanisms,

The doors are opened and closed by rods |94 fixed thereto and to the ejecting members |65 and 66 respectively, i .e. in response to actuation of the lever handle |9, the doors are opened to permit an article in a pocket aligned therewith to be ejected when the ejecting members are moved forwardly, the doors again being closed when the ejecting members are moved rearwardly.

In order, therefore, to collect the coin immediately upon opening of either of the doors I6 or |1, a pair of rods |95 and |95 are provided, which rods are rotatably mounted in bearing members |91 and |98 on the bracket |93 above each of the doors. The arrangement is substantially the same for each door and the rod |95, for example, has one end |99 thereof turned downwardly and adapted to be pivotally moved in response to rotation of the rodr through a slot 200 in the bracket aligned with a center partition 20| in each of the panels of the doors I6 and l1. The end |99 of the rod |95 extends downwardly substantially to the bottom of the door and therefore lies in the path of an article of merchandise being ejected from a pocket in back of that particular door. The rod |95 is therefore rotated when an article of merchandise engages the end |99 thereof and pivots the same in response to pressure applied by the ejecting members. The other end 202 of the rod |95 is turned inwardly relative to the machine and has fixed to the inner `end thereof a link 203 which extends through one of a pair of aligned openings in a bracket 204 Xed as at 205 to the inner face of the bracket |93. The link 203 is pivoted to the end 292 of the rod |95 and a spring 295 is mounted on the link which tends to force the end 202 downwardly when the link is off the dead center position as shown for the companion link 201 in Fig. 12. The bracket 204 has .a set-screw 294 threaded therethrough to adjustably engage the end of the rod |95 to prevent the mechanism from stopping on dead center.

A yoke 2 0 is pivotally mounted on the adjacent ends of the rods 95 and 99, said yoke preferably being of U-shape to provide a base 2|| adapted to be engaged by the ends 202 of the rods and to be pivoted downwardly in response to the pressure exerted by the springs 29B and 201. An arm 2 I2 is pivotally mounted, as indicated at 2i9, on the yoke 2 0 substantially at the outer end of the yoke and adjacent the base 2|| thereof for providing the arm 2|2 kwith a substantial verticaly reciprocation in response to pivotal movement of the yoke. The lower end of the rod 2|2 is illustrated in Figs. 4, 8 and 9 and is seen to be engaged with the shelf |43 on the stop member |36, as by fastening devices 2|4. A stop 2|5, Fig. 4, is mounted on the arm 2|2 and a spring 2|6 is interposed between the stop 2|5 and the shelf I 4,3 4for normally urging the arm 2|2 upwardly in such a manner that downwardly pivoted movement of the yoke in response to action thereon by the merchandise moved ends of the rods |95 moves the arm 2|2 downwardly against tension of the spring 2|6.

It is here pointed out that the spring 2|6 is 1 of greater strength than the adjacent spring |42 to the end that a snap action is provided for moving the stop member |31 into coin collecting position as soon as merchandise ejected by the ejecting members pivots the downturned end |99 of the rod |95, thus causing the spring-pressed end 202 of the rod |95 to engage the base of the yoke 2|0 for moving the arm 2|2 downwardly in cooperation with the spring 2 I6.

Another feature provided for in the present '1. invention` is an arrangement for locking the vending machine when the shifting mechanism thereofy isY in neutral position, that is, when the upstandfng ear |19 on thev ejecting member actuating plate l|15 is positioned between the inner ends ofthe ejecting members. Such a neutral position is effected when the shifting lever 20 is substantially midway its length of travel in the slot 86 in the cover 4 of the vending machine.

`In accomplishing the lock for the shifting mechanism when in neutral position, the bar |50, Figs. 6 and 7, is Jprovided at its upper end with a recess 220 terminating at the-upper end thereof inv a tooth 22| engageable with a cooperating tooth 222 on a lever 223 pivoted as at 224 to the hinged partition 15. The lever 223 is normally maintained in upwardly raised condition out of engagement with ther bar |50 by a spring 225, one end of which-bears upwardly against an ear 226 on the bar, and the other end of which bears against aiiange 221 of an angle bracket, the other flange of which is fixed to the hinged partition l5. Themovement of the lever 223 is limited in a downward direction by engagement of the ear 228 with the bottom of a recess formed by striking the securing flange connected with the flange 221 of the lower angle bracket outwardly from the partition 15 to provide a space therebetween for slidably receiving the outer end of the lever 223 therein.

Upward movement of the lever 223 is limited by engagement of theiupper edge ofsaid lever within the forked end 230 of a control bar 23|, Fig. 19 which is pivoted yat its upper end to'an upstanding plate 232 suitably Xed-and-extending upwardly from the bracket |1| for slidably receiving the rods |18 ofthe ejecting members |65 and |66. rThe control bar.' 23| is normally positioned at an angle when the partition 15 is hinged ineither of its ejecting member contacting positions, one of which positions is shown in Figs. 5 and 10. Since the control kbar in the condition illustrated contacts the lever22t when the partition is moved to theleft from its pcsition shown in Fig. 10, the control bar, being pivoted, must travel in an arcuate path and when it reachesa vertical position relative to its angular position illustrated in Fig. 10, thevlever 2291s necessarily depressed in opposition to action ci the spring 225.- Such depression of the lever 225 moves the tooth 222 thereon downwardly into the rearward path vof travel of the bar ld in such a manner that rearward movement of the bar |50 in response to actuation of the lever handle I9 effects engagement of theteeth 22| and 222 thereby locking the machine against further movement vof thelever handle it until such time as the control member 23| has passed its vertical position and is pivoted upwardly to the left relative to Fig. l0 to perm-it theflever 223 to raise in response to action of the lspring 225 thereby effecting disengagement of theteeth 22| and 222 and permitting eiiective actuation of the lever handle i9 in dispensing merchandise from the machine.

The upper rear edge of the hinged partition 15 is provided with a notch 233 to permit the loching bar 23| to actuate the lock 223 without becoming bound or interfering `with hinging movement of the hinged partition 15.

It is desirable, when the conveyors are so po sitioned that a pocket thereof containing the desired article is placed in dispensing position. in back of one of` the door openings it and i1 depending upon the shifted condition of the hinged partition 15, that the conveyor and pocket thereof containing that article be maintained in stationary condition during the time the article is being ejected from the pocket. To this end, a stop plate 255 is provided as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the upper end of which stopplate is pivoted as at 234i between one endof a bar 231 and the upper edge of the hinged partition 15 preferably to the rear of the plate |15. The lower end ofthestop plate 235 has an outwardly projecting lug 238 which is engageable between the adjacent pairs oi teeth of the centering gear wheel 51, it being apparent that when the lug 2 SSisbetween apair of saidlteeth on the gear wheel that kthe wheel is retained against rotation in either direction.

ln order to move the stop plate 235 in-coordihated timing with theremainder of the vending machine, it is providedwith a slotI Et for. receiving the lug |53 mounted on the linner face of the arm IH, which lug extends through the hinged partition and engages the plate i235, The slot 239 is arranged in such a manner relative to the lug |53 that whenthe' lever handle i9 is actuated to move the arr'ri'! l idownwardly the Alug |53 rides down thefslct 239.0n the plate 235 and forces the same forwardly in between pair of the teeth on the centering gear wheel 51.

The bar 231 onwhichthe plate 235 is mounted also cooperates with the hinged plate 15 in pro,- viding a runway for the plate |15 and particularly the upstanding ear |19 thereof for limiting forward-movement ofl the ear |19 by engagement .thereof` against the cross-bar formed by: theI pin 24| connecting the'firont: end of: the bar, 231 to theJ hinged'v plate 15.

As aprotection against tearing '-the wrappers from articles inthe machine,. and further to prevent smearing of the interior of the machine, should those wrappers becomefdisarranged on' thearticles of merchandise,. a grill 245 is provided which preferablycomprisesspaced rods 2f46-of substantially U-shape and 'following the contour ofithe'bottom run of the conveyors, the rods Zdlunderlyingjtheopen ends 4of the. conveyorpocketsin'such a manner as to retain articles of merchandisetherein when the conveyor pockets are turned substantially downwardly as illustrated in Figs; 2 and 3. The ends of the rods 246 are suitablynxed toa bracket 241 which bracket isin .turn suitably xed to the uprights of the framework for the actuating mechanisms of the'machine.

As a A precaution against tampering with the machine, vwhichrrlight: beiA attempted by a person with an limplement extended through the delivery spoutv I3; a shield 248, Fig. 3, is provided which vis positioned below each of `,the

doorstl.y and I1 behind the auxiliary cover lil for` the housing of4 the machine, the shields 248 preventing engagementof an implement withV the downturned ends-|99 of the coin controlling.

chandiseis inv the conveyor positioned behind' the panel 6, the handle 9 is turned to-position y that yarticle of merchandise in back of the" door IS below thepanelM,

`Shouldthe coinibe spurious the coin selector Si),

Fig. f4, 'drops the coin kinto the chute 9| to a point 92 in rthe chute for ejection onto the delivery tray 93 in back of the` delivery opening i3 so that the operator may have his coin returned to him. If, however, the coin is genuine,

and of proper denomination, the selector90 drops the coin into the chute 94 where it is delivered to the coinreceiving channel 95, Fig. 6. The coin Y its pivot Iii), Figfl, by means of the lever |05 fixed to the shaft H0. Y

Prior to deposit of acoinin the coin slot, the

stop member ||3 prevents downward-,movement of the arm Figs. 6 and-'7, in response to actuation of the lever arm |99 and lever handle I9, continued downward movement of the lever handle being against tension of the spring 94, Fig. 13, in such a manner as to protect the ,machine against violent misuse.

When, however, the coin has been properly applied and is in the position illustrated in Fig. 6, downward movement of the arm forces the coin downwardlyby means of the cam- |2'I,v the coin at this time engaging the lug ||9 to pivot the stop H3 outwardly as illustrated in Fig. 9. The cam I2? is then permitted to force the coin downwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 9, where it lodges upon the stop members |36 and I3?.

Downward movement of the lever handle I9 andconsequently the arm effects forward movement of the plate |'I5 from the position illustrated in Fig. 8 to that illustrated in Fig. 9, this forward movement of the plate causing the upstanding ear I'I9 thereon to engage with one of the ejecting members |65 and ISB, Fig. 10, for moving that ejecting'member Vforwardly in such a manner that the fingers |61 thereof enter a pocket aligned therewith through the openings it in the rear wall of the pocket to force merchandise in the pocket forwardly out of the pocket as particularly shown in Fig. 5. In this instance,

as the merchandise is forced out of the pocket 5,

engages the downturned end of the rod |95, which is similar to the downturned end |99 of the rod I 95 shown in Fig. 12, toV pivot the rod |95 clockwise and permit the yoke 2|0 to be forced downwardly by the end 202 of the rod i955 under expanding pressure of the spring 206, the ro-d 2|2 also moving downwardly. 'Ihe rod 252 is cushioned in its downward movement by the spring 2| S, Fig. 4, yet pivots the arms |4| |39, Figs. 8 and 9, of the stop member |36 in a clockwise direction in such a manner that the stop member |36 is positioned to the right, Fig. 9, of the coin to permit it to drop by gravity onto the deflector ||i|, Fig. 6, for deposit in the coin box M52.

Should there happen to be no merchandise in the pocket aligned with the actuated ejecting member, the rod lSFl will not be pivoted and as a consequence thereof, `the stop member |31 will not be moved. Therefore, when the lever handle i9 is permitted to move upwardly, the arm iii moves upwardly and the bar |59 moves to the right, as in Fig. 6, in response to engagement thereof by the lug |53 with the slot |52 in the bar |59. The arm |48 on the stop member i3? being in engagement with the bar |50, rearward movement of the bar |52) moves the stop member I3? rearwardly to underlie the coin at a position shown in Fig. 8 in such a manner that the coin is permittedto roll by gravity into the chute |65 for delivery to the delivery opening i3.- of the machine.

When it is desired to shift the coin collecting article dispensing mechanism into coordinating relation to a conveyor other than that with which said mechanisms were first connected, the shifting lever 29 is moved in the on direction of movement left for it, which lever, being connected to the hinged partition, moves said partition in the direction of movement of the lever 2li. If, therefore, the righthand conveyor were operatively engaged with the coin collecting and article dispensing mechanisms, movement of theshifting lever 29 to the left causes the hinged partition to move the centering gear wheel to theleft by means `of its engagement with the .set-screw 11, the

centering gear wheel moving into engagement with the pointed ends of the teeth on the clutch Fig, 14.

Shifting movement of the hinged partition nov-es the central bar I243|, Fig. 19, to a substantially vertical position and causes the lever to be forced downwardly into the path of travel of the bar |59 to prevent its rearward movement. Since the bar l 50 cannot move rearwardly, the arm i|| cannot move downwardly because of its connection with the bar lli@ and the cam |23' therefore cannot be moved downwardly and the coin is held in the position illustrated in Fig. G without dislodging the stop E53. When, however, the central bar 23! has passed its center vertical position, the coin collecting mechanism is free to operate in its normal manner and the coin is therefore collected and the article of merchandise dispensed.

It is also believed apparent that whichever conveyor having a pocket containing a desired article aligned in dispensing position behind one of the doors I G and is maintained in that position during dispensing of the article by reason of the fact that the lug 235i on the plate Fig. 1li, is lodged between a pair of the centering gear wheel teeth and since the centering wheel is engaged with the shaft on which the conveyor sprockets are mounted, the conveyor is maintained in the chosen position during dispensing of an article from the machine.

Certain of the more important advantages of a vending machine constructed in accordance with the present invention are that the conveyors may be locked in desired position; that the coin collecting mechanism is operative regardless of which of the conveyors is being acted upon to dispense an article in a pocket therein; that a great variety of merchandise may be contained in the machine, which articles may be of different size, shape, and of a number approximately equivalent in height to four times the height of the machine; that the dispensing mechanism is locked when neither of the conveyors is properly engaged thereby; that a coin is collected only upon actual delivery of merchandise to an operator and this only when a genuine coin is presented to the machine; that the shock absorber adequately protects the machine from violent misuse; that an attractive display of large capacity is provided; and that the machine embodying the present invention is simply operated and is efficient and substantially foolproof in such operation.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vending machine of the character described, a housing having a door therein, a conveyor mounted in said housing having a plurality of pockets, each of said conveyor pockets being alignable with said door, a coin co1- lecting mechanism, means for moving an article in a pocket aligned with said door out of said pocket, a rod pivotally mounted behind said door in the path of travel of said article, a stop member engaged with said rod, and a channel leading from said coin collecting mechanism to said stop member, said stop member being adapted to direct a coin applied to said channel into said machine in response to movement thereof by said rod.

2. In a vending machine of the character described, a housing having a door therein, a

port means into 'said delivery opening, a coin chute leading from the exterior of said cover into theinterior of said machine, a partition mounted in said housing, an arm pivotally mounted on saidpartition, a lever engaged with said arm extending exteriorly of the housing, a stop member pivotally mounted on said partition normally underlying said arm, means on said arm cooperative with a coin in said chute Vfor moving said stop memberto vpermit acuation of said arm in response to actuation of said lever member, means on said partition acting on said arm to prevent retractive movement of said arm prior to complete movement thereof in one direction, and

l means on said arm for actuating said article ejectring means in response to movement of said arm. y

10. A vending machine of the character described including, a housing, a cover for said housing having an outlet opening therein, means in the housing for supporting articles to be vended, means for ejecting an article from the sup\y port means into said delivery opening, a coin' chute leading from the exterior of said cover in to the interior of said niachine, a partition mounted in said housing, an arm pivotally mounted on said partition, a lever engaged with said arm extending exteriorly of the housing, a stop memberpivotally mounted on said partition lnormally underlying said arm, means on said arm cooperative with a coin in 4said 'chute forlmovin'g saidvstop member to permit 'actuation'.of said arm in re- 

